In order to transpose the external borders of the Schengen area, according to the current Legislation (Visa Code), the citizens of the following nationalities need a Visa.

A Schengen Visa is an authorization issued by one of the Member-States for the purpose of airport transit, transit or an intended short stay in a territory of one or more Member-States, allowing its holder to present him/herself at the external frontier, but does not automatically guarantee his/her respective entrance, which will be decided by the border authorities upon arrival.

Types of Visa

Visa A – Airport Transit Visa – allows a person to transit within the international area of an airport, from one flight to another, without entering the Schengen area.

Visa C –Transit and Short-Term stays – Visas issued to allow transit and short-term stays in the Schengen area. Those visas have a maximum validity of 90 days for each semester, allowing 1, 2 or multiple entries.

Member State Competent For Examining And Deciding On An Application

Visa applications must be submitted at the Consular post designated for their analysis and decision-making, according to the Visa Code.

The Member State competent for examining and deciding on an application for a uniform visa shall be:

if the Member State whose territory constitutes the sole destination of the visit(s);

if the Member State whose territory constitutes the sole destination of the visit(s); or

if no main destination can be determined, the Member State whose external border the applicant intends to cross in order to enter in the Schengen area.

The Member State competent for examining and deciding on an application for a uniform visa for the purpose of transit shall be:

in case of transit through only one Member State, the Member State concerned; or

in case of transit through several Member States, the Member State whose external border the applicant intends to cross in order to start the transit.

The Member State competent for examining and deciding on an application for an airport transit visa shall be:

in the case of a single airport transit, the Member State on whose territory the transit airport is situated; or

in the case of double or multiple airport transit, the Member State on whose territory the first transit airport is situated.

Payment Of Visa Fees

For each visa application a visa fee is paid. It refers to the analysis of the visa application and does not guarantee its concession.

The application is considered admissible after the visa fee is charged.

Visa Fees

General fee 60 euros

Reduced fee 35 euros

The reduced fee is applicable to:

Nationals of countries with which the EU has facilitation agreements;

Children over 6 and less than 12 years.

The visa fee shall be waived for applicants belonging to one of the following categories:

Children under six years;

School pupils, students, postgraduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake stays for the purpose of study or educational training;

Researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research;

Representatives of non-profit organisations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit organisations;

Family member of EU/EEA and Switzerland nationals.

Visa Instruction

The applicant shall appear in person and all original documents shall be presented, as well as a copy.

The Visa request instruction should justify the objective and conditions of stay.

If necessary, an interview with the mandatory presence of the visa applicant – taking place in two weeks time counting from the date of its submission – can be appointed by the Consular Post.

The admissibility of the requirement does NOT imply the visa concession. A Visa refusal does not result in the reimbursement of the visa fee paid.

It is very important to mention the contact telephone number in the application form.

Biometric Identifiers

Collection Of Biometric Identifiers

With the coming entry into force of the VIS (Visa Information System), the biometric identifiers of the applicant shall be collected at the moment of submission of the visa request, if the application is considered admissible. This collection shall be done at the first visa application and the applicant should be present.

This system shall be implemented according to the Decision 2006/648/CE of the Commission, of 22nd September 2006, and to the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The collection consists of taking 10 digital fingerprints (if there is no temporary incapacity or permanent) and one photograph.

The biometric data collection is valid for 59 months, after which the applicant will be submitted to a new collection.

The following applicants shall be exempt from this requirement:

Children under the age of 12;

Persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible;

Heads of State or government and members of a national government with accompanying spouses, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose;

Sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose.